10/04/2025
Katuk & Tulsi pesto - just one of the Buddha Bowl toppings we will be learning and trying in the second class of the Ayurvedic Earth Medicine School.
In Ayurveda, a balanced meal contains the six rasas or tastes. Sweet, salty, sour, pungent, bitter and astringent.
In this class we will learn what (tropical, subtropical and temperate) plants make up these tastes for a balanced Buddha Bowl meal for optimal digestion and assimilation according to your dosha. It’s really simple once you get the hang of it! We will learn various meals according to each dosha for breakfast, lunch and dinner. While creating your own balancing meal from a homemade food bar.
Food becomes a sacred exchange with nature, spirit, the elements and the Self.
Katuk & Tulsi Pesto🌿
Earthy, sweet, slightly peppery, and rich in prana
Ingredients:🌿
🌿1 cup fresh Katuk leaves (washed and stems removed)
½ cup fresh Tulsi (Holy Basil) leaves (Rama or Krishna variety)
¼ cup toasted almonds, tropical almonds or pumpkin seeds
2–3 tbsp cold-pressed coconut oil or olive oil (warming or cooling option)
1 tbsp fresh lime (sour, to balance Kapha and enhance digestion)
1 small clove garlic (optional – pungent)
½ inch piece fresh ginger, grated (optional – warming)
¼ tsp sea salt
Optional: 1 tsp nutritional yeast (for a cheesy flavor) or Parmesan
Directions:
Prep the greens: Wash katuk and tulsi leaves and pat dry. Remove tough stems. I also blanch my katuk
Toast the nuts/seeds: Lightly toast tropical almond nuts in a dry skillet until fragrant (if using).
Blend: Add all ingredients to a food processor or high-speed blender. Pulse until chunky-smooth, scraping down sides.
Ayurvedic Notes:
Dosha benefits:
Kapha: The pungent, astringent and bitter tones balance excess moisture and heaviness.
Pitta: Cooling oil and tulsi help reduce heat; use less garlic/ginger.
Vata: Add a bit more oil and warming spices for grounding. Can add Parmesan
Ways to Use:
As a dip with cassava chips or veggie sticks
Tossed with yucca noodles or pasta
Spread on flatbreads or dosha-friendly wraps
Dolloped on top of Buddha bowls
Stirred into warm grains like millet or quinoa
Mix with beans or gluten free pasta
